Hand saver device

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a handle for carrying a load. The handle includes a ring-shaped structure with a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side defining a perimetrical structure and a locking mechanism comprising a first, securing hole in substantially the center of the second side incorporated within the ring-shaped structure. The inner edge of the fourth side is contoured to form a grip. The first side of the ring-shaped structure is the same length as the third side and the second side is the same length as the fourth side, and the length of the first and third sides is less than the length of the second and fourth sides. The present invention is also a method of securing a string member to such a handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to a handle and, more particularly, to a handle for carrying a load on a string.

2. Description of Related Art

Strings or ropes are used to support loads in a variety of applications. For instance, fish stringers are used for securing caught fish and for carrying or handling the catch out of the water. The stringer can also be used in such a fashion as to keep the caught fish in water while the fisherman continues to seek his limit for the day. Fish are generally connected to the stringer by running a single continuous line through the mouth and gill of each fish and simply stacking them up on one another. Fish stringers that are well suited for keeping fish alive in the water are typically difficult to handle out of the water because the rope digs into the fisherman's hand while he is carrying the stringer due to the weight of the fish.

Horse trainers suffer similar injuries when the trainer leads a horse using a rope, as do hunters when the hunter carries turkeys or other small game on a rope. In fact, anytime a rope is used to support a load, the user may suffer injuries to his/her palm or fingers from holding the rope.

Accordingly, a need exists for a handle for carrying a load on a string or rope that prevents the rope from digging into the palm or fingers of the person carrying the load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a handle for carrying a load. The handle includes a perimetrical ring-shaped structure having a contoured portion forming a gripping surface, and a securing hole located substantially perimetrically opposite the contoured portion. The securing hole is adapted to secure a first end of a string therethrough, such as a rope. In this manner, a load attached to the string can be properly supported by the handle directly opposite the gripping surface. Desirably, the perimetrical ring-shaped structure further includes a locking structure positioned perimetrically between the contoured portion and the securing hole for locking the string to the handle. For example, the locking structure may include a pair of holes extending through the ring-shaped structure at a location positioned between the contoured portion and the securing hole adapted to secure the first end of the string. In this manner, the pair of holes are adapted to receive the first end of the string therethrough after it has passed through the securing hole, providing an effective locking function to prevent the string from becoming unattached from the handle.

In one embodiment, the handle includes a ring-shaped structure with a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side defining a perimetrical structure, with the first and third sides being opposite each other and the second and fourth sides being opposite each other. A locking mechanism in the form of a first securing hole is provided in substantially the center of the second side incorporated within the ring-shaped structure. The inner edge of the fourth side may be contoured to form a grip. In one embodiment, the first side of the ring-shaped structure is the same length as the third side and the second side is the same length as the fourth side, with the length of the first and third sides being less than the length of the second and fourth sides.

The locking mechanism is adapted to secure a first end of a string to the ring-shaped structure, and may further include a locking structure. The locking structure comprises a pair of holes spaced a distance from each other in at least one of the first side and the third side. The string is adapted to be secured to the ring-shaped structure through the locking mechanism by threading the first end of the string through the first hole of the second side, wrapping the string around the second side at least twice and then threading the first end of the string through at least one of the pair of holes in either the first side or the third side.

A metal ring can be attached to a second end of the string, and the string can be rot-resistant synthetic rope. The diameter of the string is less than the diameter of the first hole and the pair of holes. The ring-shaped structure can be constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal and wood.

The present invention is also a method of securing a string member to a handle. The method includes the steps of providing a handle comprising a perimetrical ring-shaped structure including a contoured portion forming a gripping surface, a securing hole located substantially perimetrically opposite the contoured portion, and a locking structure positioned perimetrically between the contoured portion and the securing hole; passing a first end of a string through the securing hole; and locking the first end of the string to the locking structure. The method further includes wrapping the string around the ring-shaped structure adjacent the securing hole prior to locking the first end of the string to the locking structure.

The locking structure can include a pair of holes extending through the ring-shaped structure at a location positioned between the contoured portion and the securing hole, and the locking step further includes sequentially passing the first end of the string through the pair of holes of the locking structure in opposite directions.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a handle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the handle of FIG. 1 with a string member threaded therethrough.

FIGS. 3 a-3 d illustrate the steps required to secure a string member to the handle of FIG. 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures where like reference numbers correspond to like elements.

With reference to FIG. 1, a handle 1 for carrying a load is provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention including a perimetrical ring-shaped structure 3. Ring-shaped structure 3 forms a general ring, defining an outer perimetrical portion which encloses an interior open area. Ring-shaped structure 3 may be formed in any desired shape forming a ring structure, such as a circular shape, an oval shape, an elliptical shape, a rectangular shape, or other known shape capable of providing a ring structure. Handle 1 can be manufactured from any material with sufficient strength to support an intended load including, but not limited to, plastic, wood or metal.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment ring-shaped structure 3 is defined with a first side 5, a second side 7, a third side 9 and a fourth side 11. First side 5 and third side 9 are opposite each other, and the second side 7 and fourth side 11 are opposite each other. Desirably, first side 5 is the same length as third side 9 and second side 7 is the same length as fourth side 11. Also, first side 5 and third side 9 may be shorter than second side 7 and fourth side 11, providing for ergonomic features to the handle.

Fourth side 11 includes a contoured portion 13 forming a gripping surface. For example, contoured portion 13 may include a series of finger grip indentations for accommodating the fingers of a user, with such indentations having rounded contours to aid in the comfort. Contoured portion 13 provides the user with a comfortable grip when the user is carrying a load with handle 1, as will be discussed in further detail.

Ring-shaped structure 3 further includes a locking mechanism incorporated therein for securing a string or rope thereto. As used herein, the term “string” is meant to encompass any structured adapted for carrying a load, such as a string, rope, line, and the like. With reference to FIG. 2 and with continuing reference to FIG. 1, the locking mechanism includes a first, securing hole 15 located substantially perimetrically opposite the contoured portion 13 and substantially in the center of the second side 7. Securing hole 15 is adapted to secure a first end 19 of a string 21 when threaded therethrough. The locking mechanism further includes a locking structure for locking string 21 to handle 1. The locking structure is positioned perimetrically between contoured portion 13 and securing hole 15, such as on first side 5 and/or third side 9 of ring-shaped structure 3. The locking structure includes a pair of holes 17 extending through ring-shaped structure 3. The pair of holes 17 are adapted to receive first end 19 of string 21 therethrough after it has passed through securing hole 15. First end 19 of string 21 is sequentially passed through one pair of holes 17 in opposite directions thereby locking string 21 within handle 1. This allows the length of string 21 to be adjusted as needed and prevents the string from slipping when it is supporting a load. Also, by providing the pairs of holes 17 on both of opposing first side 5 and third side 9, the string 21 can be effectively secured to the handle 1 in different locations depending on the user's orientation at the time.

String 21 may also be wrapped around second side 7 of ring-shaped structure 3 to provide a more secure lock of string 21 with handle 1. The diameter of string 21 is slightly less than the diameter of securing hole 15 and the pair of holes 17. This allows string 21 to easily pass through the holes. When the handle is used to carry fish on a fish stringer, a second end 23 of string 21 can be fitted with a metal ring 25 to prevent the fish from falling off of string 21 when the fish are being carried back to camp, home or a car. The string or rope may be a rot-resistant synthetic rope or any other suitable rope and may be offered in various lengths, diameters and colors.

With reference to FIGS. 3 a-3 d and with continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an embodiment of the present invention is also directed to a method of securing a string to a handle. The first step of the method involves providing a handle 1 comprising a perimetrical ring-shaped structure 3 including a contoured portion 13 forming a gripping surface, a securing hole 15 located substantially perimetrically opposite contoured portion 13, and a locking structure positioned perimetrically between contoured portion 13 and securing hole 15 (see FIG. 3 a). The locking structure includes at least one pair of holes 17 extending through the ring-shaped structure at a location positioned between contoured portion 13 and the securing hole 15.

Next, a first end 19 of a string 21 is passed through securing hole 15 (see FIG. 3 b) with sufficient slack to permit continued securement of the string to the handle, such as about 2 feet. Then, string 21 is optionally passed around second side 7 of ring-shaped structure 3 at least twice (see FIG. 3 c).

Thereafter, first end 19 of string 21 is locked to the handle 1 through the locking structure by sequentially passing first end 19 of string 21 through one of the pair of holes 17 of the locking structure at either first side 5 of third side 9 in one direction, and then passing the first end 19 of string 21 through the other of the pair of holes in the opposite direction (see FIG. 3 d).

Many different types of loads can be carried with the handle of the present invention. For instance, the present invention can be used as a handle for a fish stringer. Once a fisherman has caught a fish, he will often thread a string through the gills and out the mouth of the fish and keep the string in the water to keep the fish alive. When the fisherman is ready to quit, he lifts the string out of the water and carries the fish home. Before carrying the fish home, the fisherman can very easily secure the string to handle 1 as described above. This allows the fisherman to carry the string without the string digging into his hand. Handle 1 can also be used by hunters to carry turkey or other small game animals, as well as to drag deer or other game. Lumberjacks may find the present invention useful to drag logs or small trees after they have been chopped down. Furthermore, pet owners can use the present invention to walk a dog or lead a horse. Other uses are also contemplated, such as a handle for use with marine equipment, i.e., for use in dragging boats to dock, a handle for horse trainers to lead horses around a track, and the like. In essence, the present invention can be used to protect one's hand in any application where a rope or string is used to support a load. Based on the size of the load and the size of the rope or string used, handle 1 can be manufactured to an adequate size and from a material with sufficient strength to support the load and secure the rope or string. The diameter of securing hole 15 and the pair of holes 17 will be manufactured depending on the size of the rope or string used for a specific application.

While the present invention was described with reference to preferred embodiments of the hand saver device, those skilled in the art may make modifications and alterations to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the above detailed description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes to the invention that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced by their scope. 

1. A handle comprising: a ring-shaped structure including a first side, a second side, a third side and a fourth side defining a perimetrical structure, an inner edge of the fourth side being contoured to form a grip; and a locking mechanism comprising a first hole in substantially the center of the second side incorporated within the ring-shaped structure, the locking mechanism adapted to secure a first end of a string to the ring-shaped structure.
 2. The handle of claim 1, wherein the first side is the same length as the third side and the second side is the same length as the fourth side.
 3. The handle of claim 2, wherein the length of the first and third sides is less than the length of the second and fourth sides.
 4. The handle of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a pair of holes spaced a distance from each other in at least one of the first side and the third side.
 5. The handle of claim 4, wherein the string is adapted to be secured to the ring-shaped structure through the locking mechanism by threading the first end of the string through the first hole of the second side, and threading the first end of the string through at least one of the pair of holes in either the first side or the third side.
 6. The handle of claim 4, wherein the string is adapted to be secured to the ring-shaped structure through the locking mechanism by threading the first end of the string through the first hole of the second side, wrapping the string around the second side at least twice and threading the first end of the string through the pair of holes in either the first side or the third side.
 7. The handle of claim 6, wherein the diameter of the string is less than the diameter of the first hole and the pair of holes.
 8. The handle of claim 1, wherein a metal ring is attached to a second end of the string.
 9. The handle of claim 1, wherein the ring-shaped structure is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal and wood.
 10. The handle of claim 1, wherein the string is rot-resistant synthetic rope.
 11. A handle for carrying a load comprising a perimetrical ring-shaped structure, including a contoured portion forming a gripping surface, and a securing hole located substantially perimetrically opposite the contoured portion, the securing hole adapted to secure a first end of a string therethrough.
 12. A handle as in claim 11, wherein the perimetrical ring-shaped structure further comprises a locking structure for locking the string to the handle, the locking structure positioned perimetrically between the contoured portion and the securing hole adapted to secure the first end of the string.
 13. A handle as in claim 12, wherein the locking structure comprises a pair of holes extending through the ring-shaped structure at a location positioned between the contoured portion and the securing hole adapted to secure the first end of the string, and wherein the pair of holes are adapted to receive the first end of the string therethrough after it has passed through the securing hole.
 14. A handle as in claim 13, wherein the ring-shaped structure comprises first and second pairs of holes extending therethrough at substantially perimetrically opposite locations along the ring-shaped structure perimetrically between the contoured portion and the securing hole, such that both the first and the second pair of holes are adapted to receive the first end of the string therethrough after it has passed through the securing hole.
 15. A method of securing a string member to a handle comprising: providing a handle comprising a perimetrical ring-shaped structure including a contoured portion forming a gripping surface, a securing hole located substantially perimetrically opposite the contoured portion, and a locking structure positioned perimetrically between the contoured portion and the securing hole; passing a first end of a string through the securing hole; and locking the first end of the string to the locking structure.
 16. A method as in claim 15, further comprising wrapping the string around the ring-shaped structure adjacent the securing hole prior to locking the first end of the string to the locking structure.
 17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the locking structure comprises a pair of holes extending through the ring-shaped structure at a location positioned between the contoured portion and the securing hole, and wherein the locking step comprises sequentially passing the first end of the string through the pair of holes of the locking structure in opposite directions. 